[Neuropsychological and neuroradiological evaluation of a child with frontal and temporal lobe dysfunction following acute encephalopathy]

Abstract

A 12-year-old boy showed abnormalities of higher brain functions following acute encephalopathy, in spite of almost normal intelligence. Neuropsychological tests and ordinary intelligence tests could clearly demonstrated his visual and auditory memory impairment and frontal lobe dysfunction. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed lesions of the bilateral-temporal lobes, and single photon emission tomography showed reduced cerebral blood flow in the temporal and frontal areas bilaterally. The distribution of the lesions was compatible with his clinical symptoms and with the results of the neuropsychological tests. The combination of neuropsychological and neuroradiological examinations is helpful for evaluating higher brain functions precisely. We should make better use of these examinations in determining the most appropriate treatment for patients, particularly children with higher brain dysfunction.